English Verb-particle Constructions: Two Types, Two Structures

Abstract

This paper proposes that resultative verb-particle constructions (VPCs) have an underlyingly different structure from idiomatic VPCs; both structures differ from the Small Clause analysis of Kayne (1985) et al and the verb-particle complex analysis of Johnson (1991). Empirical support for the new proposal comes from anaphor deletion facts and coordination facts. The analysis also accounts for previously noted data involving VPCs.

Keywords

• English language-- Verb phrase